Tommy Smith has called on Sunderland not to let their FA Cup semi-final defeat wreck their season.

The Black Cats fell at the final hurdle, losing 1-0 against Millwall at Old Trafford to miss out on a place against Manchester United in the final and also on a UEFA Cup spot.

But Sunderland are still in the race for automatic promotion and, following their cup exit, Smith says the Wearsiders must now focus all their energies on bouncing back into the Premiership at the first attempt.

Sunderland now face three league games in seven days, starting tomorrow at Wimbledon as they look to cut the gap on the top two, Norwich and West Brom.

He said: "Promotion has always been the main thing for us and that is what we have to focus on.

"It is good that we have come this far in the cup. It is credit to the lads that we got to the semi-final. But the disappointment is huge at the moment.

"We have to get over it. We have three games in the next eight days, so we have to. It's a tough schedule, but we have to pick ourselves up and get on with it. Perhaps it's a good thing that there is not a lot of time to mope and think about it.

"We're still challenging for an automatic slot and we have to make sure we don't let this disappointment affect us in what is left of the league."

Smith, who was also a loser in last season's semi-final when Watford were beaten by Southampton, said: "Everyone's gutted. We worked really hard, but Millwall had a game plan and stuck by it and made it very hard for us.

"We had the chances, that is the most frustrating thing. When the dust settles and we go back and think about it then we will say this was a great run and it's just a big shame that it had to end in the semi-final.

"Everyone worked their socks off and gave 100 per cent, which is all you could have asked. Sometimes it just doesn't happen for you in games.

"I wish Millwall all the best now and I hope they win it. They won't be easy for Manchester United to beat. They'll put in 100 per cent effort, roll their sleeves up and give it a right good go."

If Sunderland fall short of automatic promotion, they could yet face Millwall again in the play-offs.

Smith said: "If it's the play-offs again, so be it. If it's Millwall, then we go again against them.

"I'm sure they won't really want to play us again because not many sides can do what they have done to us.

"We knew what sort of game it was going to be. It was physical at times, but we expected that.

"I thought we got the ball down and passed it quite well at times, but it was a disappointing goal that we conceded and we couldn't get the goal that we needed."

NMILLWALL'S shares rose by 50% today, with the club's value shooting up by £5m to £17.5m overnight after their FA Cup semi-final victory over Sunderland.